India, Feb. 12 -- The Maharashtra state cabinet on Tuesday approved an ambitious public health drive, "My Village, Healthy Village," aimed at transforming rural healthcare through community participation and preventive action.

Proposed by Public Health minister Prakash Abitkar, the statewide campaign envisions cleaner, disease-free and self-reliant villages, achieved through coordinated efforts in sanitation, safe water supply and widespread social awareness initiatives.

Officials said the programme prioritises prevention over treatment, focusing on reducing communicable and non-communicable diseases, improving maternal and child health, enhancing nutrition, ensuring safe drinking water, managing wastewater and tackling lifestyle disord...